Levels of the fungal allergen Asp f 1 in dust from two sawmills in Croatia: a pilot study

Abstract

Asp f 1 (ribotoxin) is the main allergen of Aspergillus fumigatus and a critical factor in provoking allergic responses and bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This study investigated the prevalence of allergen Asp f 1 in dust samples collected at two Croatian sawmills from different working sites (sawmilling, parquetry and sorting). A total of thirty-five floor dust samples were collected, extracted, and the mass fraction of Asp f 1 was determined using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. More than 91 % of the collected dust samples had detectable levels of Asp f 1 (limit detection 3.6 ng g−1). The median Asp f 1 mass fractions in Sawmill 1 and Sawmill 2 were 49.4 ng g−1 (range <3.6–120 ng g−1) and 35.5 ng g−1 (range 15.1–77.2 ng g−1), respectively. At both sawmills, higher median Asp f 1 values were found in the dust from sawmilling than from parquetry sites. These preliminary findings suggest the abundance of allergen Asp f 1 in reservoir dust in the woodworking environments of both sawmills. Assessment of Asp f 1 in future studies will provide further insight into the role of this allergen in eliciting respiratory morbidity.